Key result
Cost strongly influences general health check participation, with optimal communication yielding ~88% predicted uptake.
Why the study?
Health checks can detect risk factors and initiate cardiovascular disease prevention, but there is no consensus on how to communicate the results.
What are the preferences of the general population regarding the communication of cardiovascular health check results?
Cross-Sectional (n=423)
What are the preferences of the general population regarding the communication of cardiovascular health check results?
Cost is the primary driver of participation in general health checks, but adequate communication strategies (such as consultation time and lifestyle recommendations) are essential for uptake, especially among those with lower health literacy.
Cost sensitivity may curb uptake in cost-sensitive groups; cross-sectional data leaves open optimal communication strategies for cardiovascular checks.
BACKGROUND: Health checks can detect risk factors and initiate prevention of cardiovascular diseases but there is no consensus on how to communicate the results. The aim of this study was to investigate the preferences of the general population for communicating health check results. METHODS: A randomly selected sample of the Swedish population aged 40-70 years completed a discrete choice experiment survey that included questions on sociodemographics, lifestyle and health and 15 choice questions consisting of six attributes (written results, notification method, consultation time, waiting time, lifestyle recommendation and cost). Data were analyzed with a latent class analysis (LCA). Relative importance of the attributes and predicted uptake for several scenarios were estimated. RESULTS: In the analysis, 432 individuals were included (response rate 29.6%). A three-class LCA model best fit the data. Cost was the most important attribute in all classes. Preferences heterogeneity was found for the other attributes; in Class 1, receiving consultation time and the written results were important, respondents in Class 2 dominated on costs and respondents in Class 3 found consultation time, waiting time and lifestyle recommendations to be important. Health literate respondents were more likely to belong to Class 3. The predicted uptake rates ranged from 7 to 88% for different health checks with large differences across the classes. CONCLUSION: Cost was most important when deciding whether to participate in a health check. Although cost was the most important factor, it is not sufficient to offer health checks free-of-charge if other requirements regarding how the test results are communicated are not in place; participants need to be able to understand their results.
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Grauman et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in General population (n=423). Health check communication scenarios (Discrete Choice Experiment) was evaluated on Preferences for communicating health check results (relative importance of attributes). Cost was the most important attribute for deciding whether to participate in a general health check, with predicted uptake rates ranging from 7% to 88% depending on the communication scenario.
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